Cincinnati Bengals: Predicting how rookies will perform
By Kenn Korb
Taking a quick look at how all of the rookies who made the Cincinnati Bengals’ 53-man roster will perform across the 2017 NFL season.
Finally, the regular season is here, Cincinnati Bengals fans. As with every year, we’ve had far too long without football, and now there’s nothing left before the regular season begins. A major part of what will end up determining the outcome of this year for the franchise will be their rookies.
Incoming young players are key to practically every team, but Cincinnati is among the teams who rely on the players they draft more than most. With 11 draft picks in total — seven of which who eventually survived the final cutdown — the team has an abundance of new options they’ll turn to throughout the season.
Add in two undrafted free agents who made it as well and the team has made a concerted effort to improve upon a disappointing 2016 with a ton of youthful energy.
How will these individuals fare in their first professional seasons?
John Ross, WR
Expected Role: No. 2 Wide Receiver, Designated Deep Threat
2017 Statistical Prediction: 9 games played, 31 receptions, 540 yards, 4 TDs
Last season, Cincinnati saw a precipitous drop in their ability to attack teams with their deep passing game. The year actually began surprisingly well on that front in certain metrics, but it was destined to fall apart for a variety of reasons. An offensive line that let up 40+ sacks by season’s end was one culprit. A midseason injury to A.J. Green (among others) was another.
What probably had the biggest hand in it, however, was the free agent loss of Marvin Jones Jr. The team also let Mohamed Sanu leave, but Tyler Boyd was able to have a decent rookie season in a quasi-Sanu receiving role. On the outside, there was nobody besides Green to go deep with any consistent success. The addition of Ross should immediately solve those problems.
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His speed is unquestionable — he set the 40-yard dash record at the Combine, after all — and that will be a terrifying prospect for the opposition to deal with. If everyone lines up as planned, the offense should basically always have an opening in the passing game.
Green is still a top-five wide receiver who always needs safety help shaded his way. Tyler Eifert is a monster in the middle of the field and the red zone. Boyd should get better as a slot option. Ross should take the top off defenses and force coverages to adjust accordingly just by being on the field, helping everyone else.
There’s a reason I said he “should” solve those problems, though.
Ross’ health has been the massive concern since college. Shoulder and knee injuries came with him into the league (including an ACL tear which made him miss his 2015 junior season), and he’s done little to prove his health problems are a thing of the past. He barely managed to participate in the preseason because of injuries, and he’s dealing with yet another one before the season has even kicked off.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that he’ll be able to remove these problems for 2017, and missing large chunks of the season should probably be the expectation for the injury-hampered young man.
When he does play, however, that speed of his is enough of a weapon by itself that he probably won’t even need to be making catches to change games. That may not mean a huge statistical onslaught, but it could mean a handful of game-breaking plays littered among the contests he participates in.